按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of a stem schoolmaster； all of the veteran officers present remained dead silent。
〃You officers； the few among you who were sober enough that is； may have heard an explosion and seen a cloud of smoke while you were on the way here。 This explosion was caused by an individual who entered this base and is still undetected in our midst。 We know nothing about him； but suspect that he is an offworld spy。。。〃
This drew a gasp and a murmur as might be expected and the gray man waited a moment until he continued。
〃We are making an intensive search for this individual。 Since you gentlemen were in the immediate vicinity I am going to talk to you one at a time to find out what you might know。 I also may discover 。 。 。 which one of you is the missing spy。〃
This last shaft exacted only a shocked silence。 Now that he had everyone in the right mental condition for cross…examining the gray man began calling officers forward one at a time。 I was doubly grateful for the foresight that had dropped me off the truck onto the side of my head。
It was no accident that I was the third man called forward。 On what grounds？ General resemblance in build to the offworld spy Pas Ratunkowy？ My delayed arrival at Glupost？ The bandage？ Some basis of suspicion must have existed。 I dragged forward with slow speed just as the others had done。 I saluted and he pointed to the chair next to the desk。
〃Why don't you hold this while we talk；〃 he said in a reasonable voice； passing over the silver egg of a polygraph transmitter。
The real Vaska would not have recognized it； so I didn't。 I just looked at it with slight interestas though I did not know it was transmitting vital information to the lie detector before himand clutched it in my hand。 My thoughts were not as calm。
I'm caught！ He has me！ He knows who I am and is just toying with me！
He looked deep into my bloodshot eyes and I detected a slight curl of distaste to his mouth。
〃You have had quite a night of it。 Lieutenant Hulja；〃 he said quietly； his eyes on the sheaf of papersand on the lie detector readout as well。
〃Yes sir； you know 。 。 。 having a few last drinks with the boys。〃 That was what I said aloud。 What I thought was 'They will shoot me； dead； right through the heart！' and I could visualize that vital organ spouting my life's blood into the dirt。
〃I see you recently had your rank reducedand where are your fuses。 Pas Ratunkowy？〃 Am I tired 。 。 。 wish I was in the sack I thought。
〃Fuses； sir？〃 I blinked my red orbs and reached to scratch my head and touched the bandage and thought better of it。 His eyes glared into mine； gray eyes almost the color of his uniform； and for a moment I caught the strength and anger behind his quiet manners。
〃And your head woundwhere did you get that？ Our offworld spy was struck on the side of the head。〃
〃I fell； sir； someone must have pushed me。 Out of the truck。 The soldiers bandaged it； ask them 。 。 。〃
〃I already have。 Drunk and falling down and a disgrace to the officer corps。 Get away and clean yourself up； you disgust me。 Next man。〃
I climbed unsteadily to my feet； not looking into the steady glare of those cold eyes； and stared off as though I had forgotten the device in my hand； then turned back and dropped it on his desk； but he was bent over the papers and ignoring me。 I could see a faint scar under the thin hair of his balding crown。 I left。
Fooling a polygraph takes skill； practice and training。 All of which I had。 It can only be done in certain circumstances and this one had been ideal。 A sudden interview without normalizing tests being run on the subject。 Therefore I began the interview in a near panicbefore any questions had been asked。 All of this must have peaked nicely on his graph。 I was afraid。 Of him； of something； anything。 But when he had asked the loaded question meant to uncover a spythe question I knew was ingI had relaxed and the readout had shown this。 The question was a meaningless one to anyone but the offworlder。 Once he saw this the interview was over； he had plenty more to do。
Otrov was sitting up； cold sober； eyes as big as plates when I came back and dropped onto the bench next to him。
〃What did he want？〃 He spoke in a hollow whisper。
〃I don't know。 He asked me something or other that I didn't know about and then it was over。〃
〃I hope he doesn't want to talk to me。〃
〃Who is he？〃
〃Don't you know！〃 With shocked incredulity。 I tread warily； covering my plete lack of information。
〃Well you know I just came here 。 。 。〃
〃But everyone knows Kraj。〃
〃Is that him 。 。 。？〃 I gasped it out and tried to look as frightened as he did and it seemed to work； because he nodded and looked over his shoulder and quickly back again。 I rose and went to the latrine again to terminate the conversation at this spot。 Everyone knew about Kraj。
Who was Kraj？
Chapter 11
Embarking for the invasion came as a relief to everyone； better a nice quiet war than the suspicions and fears that swept the Glupost base during the following days。 There were sudden inspections； midnight searches； constant alarms and the sound of marching boots at all hours。 I would have been proud of my efforts at sowing the seeds of disorder if I had not been a victim of that disorder at the same time。 The invasion plans must have gone ahead too far to alter because； in the midst of all the excitement； we still adhered to schedule。 On B Day minus two all the bars closed so that the sobering up process of the troops could begin。 A few reluctant ones； myself and Otrov included； had concealed bottles which carried us a bit further； but even this ended when our lockers and bags were put into storage and we were issued pre…packed invasion kits。 I had a small can of powdered alcohol disguised as tooth powder that I was saving for an emergency and the emergency instantly presented itself as the thought of the ing weeks without drink； so Otrov and I finished the tooth powder on B Day minus one and that was that。 After one last midnight spot check and search we were assembled and marched to the departure area。 The fleet； row after row of dark projectiles； stood waiting beyond the gates。 We were called out； one at a time； and sent to our assigned places。
In the beginning I had thought that this was a rather stupid way to run an invasion。 No plans； no diagrams； no peptalk； no training； no maneuversno nothing。 It finally dawned on me that this was the ideal way to mount an invasion that you wished to keep secret。 The pilots had plenty of piloting experience； and would get more on the outward voyage。 The troops were ready to fight； the sources of supply supplied。 And somewhere at the top there were locked boxes of plans； course tapes and such。 None of which would be opened until we were safe in warpdrive and outside munication would be impossible。 All of which made life easier for me since there were few opportunities to trip me up in my knowledge of things Cliaandian。
It was with a great deal of pleasure that I found myself assigned as pilot of a troop transport。 This was a role I could fill with honor。 My earlier assignment of a roommate had not been accide